happy 1st birthday leo

We celebrated Leo's first birthday yesterday with family and friends.  It was a beautiful day so we did the entire party outside.  I'm a big fan of the outdoor party and hope to continue this tradition for many years to come.  As he gets older his birthday will fall close to the end of the school year, so it'll be a big day in many ways, for many people.  For me, it'll always be my Leo's birthday.  

Where have the past 12 months gone?  Leo came into our lives on June 24, 2012 and nuzzled his way into our hearts.  Right from the start he's been mister mellow.  He's got the biggest, sweetest smile and gives great hugs.  Now that he's walking and getting around things are getting more fun.  He and Ruby are learning how to play together which is promising.  The kids and I are getting out quite regularly now for a morning run and my heart melts every time I look down to see them holding hands.  Sometimes Ruby will entertain herself with a song and Leo attempts to sing along with her.  It's precious.  

Here are some pictures from the party:

Pre-party lounging.  He loves to read books now.   

Playing with the kids.  

Opening presents!

Ruby was the official gift-opener.  

Ruby and Kate.  I think they were opening a present here. 

Daddy and his little guy. 

Proud Grandma and Grampie. 

Lee being adored... by me. 

Leo and his cousin Ryah. 

Leo's birthday gift to me was learning how to sleep all night, which he's finally doing regularly.  

Thank you my love.  

Thank you.  ox

sackville

It was exactly ten years ago that Ryan and I were falling in love.  The summer of 2003 was our first summer together and we spent a great deal of time at his parent's house in Sackville.  Ten years before that I was a student at Mount Allison University in Sackville.  Little did I know then just how significant the small town would become in the story of my life.  

Ryan and I ended up buying our first house in that small town.  We lived together for five happy years at Silver Lake Estates (which was more like a cottage actually), got engaged up the road on a path in Beech Hill Park and had our first experience as parents to a chubby cat named Minnie.  I can't say we loved every minute of life in Sackville, but the good memories far outweigh the bad.  The wide open spaces, dark skies littered with stars and endless country roads are among my favorite things in the world.  

Life was different back then.  There was no-one but ourselves to be accountable to and we could come and go as we pleased.  Looking back, I think those days comprised some of the best in my life... so far.  

Nowadays, we're the parents of two beautiful children with no time for pets.  The kids are our number one priority and we rarely get time alone or the freedom to do things with selfish intentions.  It's been three whole years since we've had more than a few hours alone together, but Ryan and I were just given a wonderful gift of two entire days off duty.  Rather than going to Halifax or somewhere else, we spent the weekend in Sackville!  Ryan's parents are away so we stayed there, got some rest, relaxation and reminisced about the 'good old days'.  

Time away from the daily grind was just what the doctor ordered and luck would have it that the weather was perfection.  There was no schedule and no naps to squeeze in other than our own.  Ironically, we talked about the kids practically the whole time and now have a list of things we want to experience with them in.... Sackville.  

P.S.  Happy Father's Day Ryan!
Good job little buddy.  I love you.

-L ox

sleep.... don't you love it?

I mentioned before how Miss Ruby recently decided that she no longer needs naps.
Well, I beg to differ.....

She's falling asleep almost every day in strange places, but refuses to go to her bed for a nap.  These random snoozes usually take place late afternoon which is making bedtime more difficult.  Oh Ruby!  What on earth are you thinking?  If someone offered me a nap at the same time every day I would surely take it.  You have no idea how lucky you are to have the freedom to nap at your leisure and someday... SOME DAY I hope you read this and feel a hint of remorse for the loss of your naps.  For someday you will be like me and long for a nap that you cannot take because of responsibilities and a funny thing called life that you cannot escape.

Here's what Leo and I got up to while Ruby slept on the couch yesterday....

He, on the other hand is napping quite well.  He's still doing two naps per day and my doctor recently suggested that I transition him to one nap in hopes of getting him to sleep longer at night.  I'm not sold on the fact that he's done with his morning nap but I'm tempted to give it a try.  He's no worse than Ruby was at this age, (still waking twice each night) but it's wearing me down.  It's been an entire year since I've slept longer than 3 hours in a row.   Every night when I go to bed I wonder if this will be the night that Leo sleeps all night.  It's gotta happen and I hope it happens randomly when I least expect it.  Like tonight.  

xxxooo 

summer's coming

So Leo's walking.  A kids ability to walk brings a lot freedom to the mom, which in this case is me and couldn't have come at a better time.  It's nice being able to go about the day not having to 1) constantly carry Leo, and 2) justify the fact that I'm carrying Leo to Ruby.  Our little lady has developed quite a jealous streak and has been making life, well, challenging these days.  I hope she grows out of it.  Let's all join forces and cross our fingers nice and tight on this one.

Summer's almost here and we've been enjoying the nice weather.  The kids' first pool date was a great success.  You should have seen them splashing and smiling from ear to ear... squealing too.  It was cute.

Leo's newly found freedom has come with a newly found curiosity as well.  He's getting into mischief wherever he can find it.

Messing up his room.  

Climbing INTO the oven.  

He certainly is a boy and seems to have no fear of climbing, sliding, rolling, jumping, diving, swinging, biking, hanging..... or anything else.  We should get a life insurance policy out on him soon and invest in several first aid kits.  I see many boo-boos in our future.  Thank goodness we haven't had any major spills yet.